Hello, the MFM Drive in my PC/AT recently had a head crash and I want to replace it with a CF card. I happened to have a generic ISA IDE card so I decided to give that a try. However, the AT refuses to turn on with the CF card in the IDE to CF adapter. When the adapter is plugged in alone (CF card removed), the AT boots fine. I know the IDE card works because I was able to use a hard drive and two floppy drives, as well as the built in serial ports. Also, I tested the CF card and adapter in a newer PC and it was usable and formattable. Any thoughts on what I’m doing wrong, or is the AT not comparable with a CF card?
- VCF South West - June 14 - 16, Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center at University of Texas at Dallas
- VCF West - Aug 2 - 3, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA
- VCF Midwest - Sept 7 - 8 2024, Schaumburg, IL
- VCF SoCal - Mid February 2025, Location TBD, Southern CA
- VCF East - April 2025, Infoage Museum, Wall NJ
-
Please review our updated Terms and Rules here
IBM 5170 and CF Card
- Thread starter RHopple
- Start date
Ruud
Veteran Member
You mean to power up, counting the RAM, etc.? Weird. I can imagine the the AT doesn't recognize the CF card because of its weird H/C/S configuration, but not starting up at all? Again, weird.
My Commodore PC35-III, also a 80286 machine, has no problems at all with a CF card. Note: I added the Universal BIOS on forehand.
The AT will not even count the RAM if the adapter AND CF card are in; it will, however, count the RAM with ONLY the adapter in place. I agree, very strange behavior. I thought about replacing the BIOS, but I do not have any empty EEPROMs to burn. It’s an 8 MHz with the last IBM BIOS revision, if that helps.
The only time I've seen an IDE device cause a computer not to boot at all is if it is plugged in backwards. Check Pin 1 goes to Pin 1, other than that I'm stumped. You say the IDE controller works with a hard drive while in the AT, Correct?
I flipped the adapter both ways and still nothing. However, the AT will not boot with the adapter one way even without the card, confirming the other way is correct. And yes, the controller works with other drives.
I was doing some research and discovered the card may need to be forced into IDE mode, but I’m unsure how that works or how to accomplish such a task.
I was doing some research and discovered the card may need to be forced into IDE mode, but I’m unsure how that works or how to accomplish such a task.
What CF adapter and controller are you using ?, Some of the cheap crappy chinese CF adapters don't work well with some 16-bit IDE/floppy controllers, There are other known issues when using a 'non' original IBM controller in the 5170 with IBM Bios as noted on modem7's website.
MissArgent
Veteran Member
If memory serves, certain 5170 BIOS revisions won't boot without the original MFM card in. Replacing it (but leave it empty) or installing one of the after market BIOS at Minuszerodegrees may help.
